SAN FRANCISCO - July 21, 1999Honorable C. H. Tung, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region visited San Francisco
and Silicon Valley July 21 and 22, 1999 to update friends in the U.S. on the latest developments in Hong Kong since China resumed sovereignty just over two years ago.
The event was co-sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Hong Kong Association of Northern California, Asia Society, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Asia Foundation, World Affairs Council of Northern
California, and Commonwealth Club of California.
Mr. Tung briefed the audiences on Hong Kong's advantages as a business and service center, and discussed the importance the SAR attaches to the development
of IT and other high value-added industries.
The following are excerpts of questions and answers following Mr. Tung's speech before an audience at the Argent Hotel, San Francisco.
Question: How would you help reduce the recent tension which emerged after President Lee's comments on the German television station?
Well, my responsibility is looking after Hong Kong. (Audience Laughter) My
responsibility is to make sure one country two systems truly works and become a shining example for Taiwan and anywhere. (Audience applause)
Question: Will the Taiwan China conflict affect the economic recovery of Hong Kong?
I think any conflict in the region would affect Hong Kong and would affect the region,
and I think would affect the whole world. This is particularly important therefore to align ourselves that we really must move forward under one China principle.
Question: How would you expect the government team be constructed following your retirement in year 2002? (Audience Laughter) Will the key team players be elected through a general election?
(Mr. Tung pauses before answering, then laughter from audience) There are people in Hong Kong who's inpatient for me to retire! (More Laughter) Well, I haven't really
reached that stage of decision making yet. Some of you may or may not know�I was elected by a 400 member selection committee, comprising of representatives of
different walks of life, representing the people of Hong Kong. Before that, I was happily engaged in business, coming to San Francisco and (audience laugher covers
his words). Who would have thought that trying to get support from 400 people would be easier than to get support from six and a half million people, but I have news for
you. In order to get voted in by these 400 people, there's really a lot of work. I would give you example. I visited President Lee of the Medical Society, Dr. Lee, a wonderful
man, I asked for his support, he said just a moment, I have an executive council I'd like you to meet. (...The meeting was) getting larger and larger, eventually, a theatre
of doctors and nurses, everybody was there. (I heard) their comments on government and what needed to be done to a medical profession. And, not only you have to
listen, you have to understand the issues, and to stake out positions, ...to get their support. And this goes on for different professions. There's the Chamber of
Commerce and you go through the same thing, again and again and it went on for many, many months. By November, the election was in December, by November I
recognized I was behind in the opinion polls, so I had to go out to meet the people, and short of kissing babies I was doing everything possible (audience laughter) to get
support of the people at large. On election day, by then I already lost ten pounds.(laughter) On the election day, I was voted by 80% of the 400?and then, the
public opinion poll (put me at) 70% in favor of my being elected. So it is, quite a complicated affair and a very very important election process. The next Chief
Executive will be elected in a similar process except the election committee will consist then of 800 people. And then beyond that...it's up to the Hong Kong people to
decide how we will want to move forward so we still have a few years to think about how we want to move forward beyond the year of 2007. But no, I'm not retiring yet! (audience applause)
